Ant-trap



Warren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS A. MAYS, OF ANTHON, TEXAS.

ANT-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,256, dated January18, 1887. E

Application filed June 26, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. MAYS, a eitizen of the United States,residing at Anthon, in the county of Parker and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Improvementin Ant-Traps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to traps for catching ants and other similarinsects; and the object of my invent-ion is to provide a trap whichshall be portable, simple in construction, and thoroughly efficient inoperation.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar andnovel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter describedand claimed.

In order that my invention maybe fully understood I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ant-trap. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal section of the same.

In the said drawings, a b designate two par-- allel pieces forming thesides of the device and extending throughout the length thereof. Saidside pieces are connected midway of their length by a bail or handle, 0,and have their upper edges, d, bent inward and downward, as shown. Theside piece a is formed at each end with a slot, a, and said slots areclosed by slides 6 working upon the outer side of said piece a. At eachend of the frame is located the trap proper, the two traps being alike,and the space f between said traps serving to receive the ant-hill. Thelower edges, 00, of the side pieces, a I), extend below the bottoms g ofthe traps proper, so that said edges 00 may be forced into the groundand prevent the insects from escaping under the sides of the device.

Each trap consists of a bottom, and oblique convergent sides 9, theupper edges of Serial No. 206,350. (No model.) I

in the top of the trap, the said upper edges of the sides 9 being bentdownward, as shown at g". The openings or slots (4 each communicate withthe interior of one of the traps and serve to permit the removal of theinsects from the trap when desired. The bent edges 01 g",

above described, prevent the insects from escaping over the sides of theframe or traps.

It will thus be seen that the device will capture insects eithertraveling to or from their burrows, and that it is simple, durable, andefficient in action.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the side pieces, a b, of the traps 9, locatedbetween opposite ends of said side pieces and separated by an inclosed'space, the openings 0/ communicating with said traps and the slides forclosing said openings, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the side piece a, having slots a and bent edged, and carrying slides e, and the side I), having also bent edge d, ofthe traps g g and bail c, as described.

3. The traps haviugthe horizontal bottoms and the upwardly-converginginclined sides 9, having their upper edges downturned at g to formopenings 00, in combination with the vertical side pieces, a 11, formingthe ends of the traps and connecting the same together, the said sidepieces having the downturned upper edges, d, and the depending loweredges, a, for the purpose set forth, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS A. MAYS.,

Witnesses:

W. R. CALVERT, J. B. PRICE.

